Washing machine



G. S. BLAKESLEE.

WASHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.H,19I9.

Patented Oct. W, 19220 Patented @ct. 1Q, 1922.

oration-0 GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

WASHING MACHINE.

Original application filed November 27, 1914, Serial No. 874,252. Divided and this application filed Jannary 11, 1919. Serial No. 270,673.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE S. BLAKESLEE, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in \Vashing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being bad to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to washing machines, and has for its object to provide an improved machine for washing dishes and other articles, of the type in which the articles to be washed are carried past the 'means for throwing hot washing and rinsing water upon them so that by their passage' through the machine they are thoroughly cleansed. More especially my object is to provide a construction by which the use of baskets or containers for the dishes or other articles to' be washed is avoided and the dishes are delivered automatically from the machine after having been cleansed. As a means of accomplishing the latter objeot my invention comprises an improved form of conveyor with means associated therewith to receive the articles delivered as an incident to theoperation of the conveyor and without separate handling of the articles. The nature of the invention will clearly appear from the following description of the embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and what I claim as my invention will be definltely pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,v

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a washing machine embodying my improvements, taken substantially on line 11 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section substantially on line 2-2 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section on line 3-3 ofFig. 1;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail, being a partial ,longitudinal sectional view illustrating the discharge end of the conveyor and the receiving table which cooperates therewith; and

Fig. 5' is an enlarged detail, being a part-ial plan view illustrating the construction of the conveyor.

'Referring to the drawings for a detailed description of theembodiment of my in vention therein illustrated,-l5 indicates a tank supported by standards 16-17 of any suitabletype. The tank 15 is divided at an intermediate point by a partition 18 into sections 19 and 20, forming respectively rinsing and washing compartments. Extend ng laterally from the tank 15 are'two housings 21-22, the lower faces of which are above the bottom of the tank 15 but a short distance below the level at which the water 15 adapted to stand in said tank. As best shown in Fig. 3, the housings 21-22 are circular in form at their outer ends, con forming to the periphery of the paddlewheels 23-24 mounted therein, as hereinafter described.

The means for supporting the paddlewheels 23-24; comprises a shaft 25 having suitable hearings in the side walls of the housings 2122, said paddle-wheels being secured upon said shaft and caused to rotate therewith by means of hubs 2627, respectively. .Each of the paddle-wheels 23-24 comprises two heads 28-29 secured to a hub 26-27 at the opposite ends thereof, said heads supporting between them a plurality; of trough-like paddles 30. Fixed upon the shaft 25 there is a drive-pulley 31, of any suitable type, adapted to be driven at comparatively high speed from any suitable source of power, whereby each of said paddle-wheels in being driven in counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3 is adapted to elevate and throw laterally therefrom with considerable force a comparatively large amount of water, as is well understood in the art, the tank 15 being completely enclosed except at its ends in order to confine the water during the washing operation. I

The conveyor for carrying the dishes through the showers of water thrown b the paddle-wheels 2324 comprises an en less belt adapted to be revolved continuously as hereinafter described. Said belt comprises two chains 32-33 having mount ed between them a plurality of cross-arms 34, each of which cross-arms carries a plurality of longitudinally-extending wooden pins 35, which, as best shown in Fig. 5, are arranged so that the pins carried h each cross-arm overlap those carried by t e adjacent cross-arm, thus forming a substantially continuous reticulated operating surface upon which the articles to be washed are carried. In the construction shown, the cross-arms 34 are fixedly mounted in sockets 36 formed integrally with alternate links of the chains 32-33.

The belt is supported in position by means of shafts 37-38 revolubly mounted in the sides of the tank 15, said shafts being provided with suitable sprocket-wheels 39 adapted to mesh with the chains 32-33. As is best shown in Fig. 2, the shaft 38 extends beyond the tank 15 at one side thereof, where it is provided with a spiral gear 40 adapted to mesh with a spiral gear 41 mounted upon a short shaft 42 driven by means of a spiral gear 43 thereon meshing with another spiral gear 44 fixed upon the shaft 25. The proportions of the parts of the driving train readily understood.

connecting the shaft 25 with the shaft 38 will of course be such as to give the conveyor the desired speed of movement past the paddle-wheels 2324. At each side of the conveyor there is provided a rib or flange 45, which ribs are adapted to support the conveyor in operative position, as will be In the construction shown, the ribs 45 are formed of angle-irons secured to the side walls of the tank 15.

46 indicates a table which receives the cleansed-,articles' from the conveyor, such table, as best shown in Fig. 1, being arranged opposite the discharge end of the machine and being provided with an upwardly projecting apron 47 which extends to a point adjacent to the conveyor, its upper margin being substantially level with the shaft 38, as shown in Fig. 4. As illustrated in the latter figure, as the conveyor passes around the sprocket wheels 39 the pins 35 turn at an angle to the plane of the upper surface of the conveyor and swing momentarily into alinement with the apron 47. Consequently the dishes resting upon such pins are caused to slide down upon the apron 47 by which they are delivered to the table 46. The pins 35, therefore, serve in turn as temporary extensions of the apron 47 and act consecutively to deliver the articles resting upon them to the receiving table.

In using the machine the section 20 or washing compartment of the tank is filled with water heated to a proper temperature by any suitable means, (not shown,). and

:a suitable cleaning agent is dissolved in the water in said section. The section 19 or rinsing compartment is provided with clean hot water for rinsing purposes. Power being applied to the pulley 31 the paddle wheels 23-24 are caused to rotate rapidly and the endless belt conveyor is driven so that the upper portion thereof moves toward the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. The dishes or other articles to be washed are placed upon the upper surface of the conveyor at the inlet end of the machine, and by the movement of the conveyor are carried past the housing where they are subjected to the action of hot wash water taken from the section 20 by the paddle wheel 23 and thrown violently upon them. As the dishes are advanced by the conveyor they are permitted to drain as they pass between the housings 2122 and as the y pass the housing 22 they are thoroughly rinsed by hot water from the section 19 thrown by the paddle wheel 24. They are then delivered in the manner described to the apron 47 which directs them to the receiving table 46.. Owing to the fact that the pins 35 move into alinement with the apron 47 the dishes are permitted to slide gently off of the conveyor and consequently they are not apt to be damaged, as would be the case if they were permitted to drop suddenly. By the construction described I providea washing machine which does not require the use of baskets or other receptacles for the articles to be washed, as they may be placed in any convenient way upon the surface of the conveyor without careful arrangement. Thus not only is the capacity of the machine increased, but the time and labor of packing the dishes in a basket and also the expense of providing baskets are avoided. The pins 35 being made of wood are soft enough so that even if the dishes are deposited upon them with some violence there is little danger of damage. The conveyor being of openwork construction the washing and rinsing water thrown upon the dishes is permitted to freely pass through it in its return to the tank, although a substantially continuous surface is provided for supporting the articles to be washed, thereby adapting the machine for use even with comparatively small articles.

While my improved machine is intended primarily for washing dishes it may also be used for any other purpose for which. it is adapted.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters atent, is-

1. In a washing machine, the combination with means for throwing water upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending members upon which the articles to be washed rest, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and means in juxtaposition to said rotary support'for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

.; rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and means in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

3. In a Washing machine, the combination with means for throwing water upon the articles to be Washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars .having longitudinally-extending pins, the pins of adjacent bars being arranged to overlap to form the operating surface of the conveyor, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and means in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

4. In a washing machine, the combination with means for throwing water upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending members upon which the articles to be washed rest, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over Which said conveyor travels downward, and an inclined apron arranged in juxtaposition-to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

5. In a Washing machine, the combination with means for throwing water upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form ,an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending pins forming the operating surface of the conveyor, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and an inclined apron arranged" in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

6. In a Washing machine, the combination with means for throwing water upon the articles to be Washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending pins, the pins of adjacent bars being arranged to overlap to form the operating surface of the conveyor, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and an inclined apron arranged in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

7. In a washing machlne, the combination with a tank, and a paddle wheel for throwing Water from said tank upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor extending over the water in said tank, comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said transverse bars having longitudinally-extending pins forming an openwork operating surface for the conveyor, a rotarysupportat the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and means in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articlesfrom said conveyor.

8. In a washing machine, the combination with a tank and a paddle .wheel for throwing water from said tank upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor extending over the water in the said tank, com

prising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said transverse bars having longitudinally-extending pins, the pins of adjacent bars being arranged to overlap to form an openwork operating surface for the conveyor, a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward, and means in juxtaposition to said rotary support for receiving the articles from said conveyor.

9. In a washing machine, the combination with means for throwing Water upon the articles to be washed, of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending members upon which the articles to be washed rest, and a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which said conveyor travels downward.

10. In a washing machine, the combination with means for throwing Water upon the articles to be washed,-of a conveyor comprising a series of transverse bars linked together to form an endless chain, said bars having longitudinally-extending wooden pins upon which thecarticles to be washed rest, and a rotary support at the discharge end of the machine over which saidconveyor travels downward.

GEORGE s. BLAKESLEE. 

